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What is a Creatinine Blood Test?

Rolando Braza
Rolando Braza

A creatinine blood test is a blood examination that is done to check the level of creatinine in the kidneys. Creatinine is the waste product of creatine, which supplies energy to the skeletal muscles. The blood test is done to see if the kidneys of a person are functioning normally or to check the status of a person’s kidney that has developed a disease. A creatinine blood test also is performed to ensure that a person who takes medicines that can damage the kidneys is spared from such damage.

Doctors sometimes order another blood test called the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test to be done together with the creatinine blood test to check if the BUN-to creatinine ratio is higher or lower than the normal values, which usually range from 10-to-1 up to 20-to-1. A ratio higher than normal might be a result of a decrease in blood flow to the kidneys because of congestive heart failure or dehydration. A ratio that is lower than normal, on the other hand, might be caused by malnutrition or disease of the liver brought about by a decrease in the production of urea inside the body.

A creatine blood test is a blood examination that checks the level of creatine in the kidneys.
A creatine blood test is a blood examination that checks the level of creatine in the kidneys.

The conducting of a creatinine blood test requires a blood sample that is extracted from a vein in the arm of a person by a health professional, usually a medical technologist. The medical technologist will wrap an elastic band tightly around the upper arm of the person to stop blood flow and cause the veins below the band to bulge. This will facilitate the insertion of a needle that will draw blood to the barrel of the syringe when the plunger is pulled. After removing the needle from the patient's arm, the medical technologist will transfer the blood sample to a vial and take it to the laboratory for analysis.

Conducting a creatinine blood test requires a blood sample to be extracted from a vein in the arm.
Conducting a creatinine blood test requires a blood sample to be extracted from a vein in the arm.

A person who will undergo creatinine blood test is required to fast for at least eight hours before the test. This means that nothing can be orally taken from the time the fasting commences until the blood test is completed. A person should not fast for more than 12 hours; this will result in the cancellation of the test because over-fasting will produce unreliable test results. Over-fasting also might result in hypoglycemia — a condition in which the blood glucose becomes too low to provide the energy needed to do an activity. People taking the test, therefore, should avoid over-fasting to prevent delay in the test.

The blood that is extracted during a creatine blood test is sent to a lab for analysis.
The blood that is extracted during a creatine blood test is sent to a lab for analysis.

Doctors urge each person to have an annual check-up to maintain healthy kidneys and other vital organs. Some diseases can cause total kidney failure, which could lead to death. This can be avoided through proper health care. A friendly reminder from doctors: Prevention is better than cure — always.

Discussion Comments

Heavanet

Also Rundocuri, it is important to get a diagnosis if the creatinine blood test results continue to be elevated. If normal creatinine levels can not be achieved, there could be a serious problem. In addition, if dehydration is the root cause, too many episodes of dehydration can result in kidney issues.

Rundocuri

Another important thing to remember about creatinine blood test results is that they do not always indicate a serious illness if creatinine levels are high. This result may indicate an illness that is easily treated, or something as reversible as dehydration. So it is always important to ask your doctor what your creatinine blood test results mean, and what treatment you require if the test is abnormal.

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    • A creatine blood test is a blood examination that checks the level of creatine in the kidneys.
      By: smuay
      A creatine blood test is a blood examination that checks the level of creatine in the kidneys.
    • Conducting a creatinine blood test requires a blood sample to be extracted from a vein in the arm.
      By: inkaone
      Conducting a creatinine blood test requires a blood sample to be extracted from a vein in the arm.
    • The blood that is extracted during a creatine blood test is sent to a lab for analysis.
      By: luchshen
      The blood that is extracted during a creatine blood test is sent to a lab for analysis.
    • A creatinine blood test determines the amount of creatinine in the kidneys.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      A creatinine blood test determines the amount of creatinine in the kidneys.
    • A blood sample for a test can be taken from either an artery or a vein.
      By: Goran Bogicevic
      A blood sample for a test can be taken from either an artery or a vein.
    • Creatinine blood tests check for levels of a certain waste product, to gauge kidney function.
      By: weim
      Creatinine blood tests check for levels of a certain waste product, to gauge kidney function.
    • Individuals who are fasting prior to a creatinine blood test need to ensure that their blood glusose doesn't drop too low.
      By: frog-travel
      Individuals who are fasting prior to a creatinine blood test need to ensure that their blood glusose doesn't drop too low.